It’s time for the reveal in the One Room Challenge. Back in September, I was really excited to start making over the laundry room. At the beginning of October, I was really excited when I joined the One Room Challenge to help keep me on track. Today, you’re going to see how far the laundry room has come. (And, yes, I’m still really excited).
This makeover was all about simple upgrades.
I converted the cabinets to a shaker style by adding strips around the border. A black and white paint scheme freshened them the rest of the way. We’re still missing the hardware on our cabinets. They’re special orders and are taking their time coming in. So just imagine sparkly chrome knobs and cup pulls, would you? (I’ll post an update when the hardware finally arrives).
Fresh paint on the walls, ceiling and trim–and fresh baseboard all the way around–brought the laundry room up to the same standard as the rest of the basement.
Then it was on to a few fun projects.
A light fixture made out of clothespins.
Look at the great pattern it makes on the ceiling when it’s all lit up.
To keep the wood tone accents going, I added a few baskets to the top of the free-standing cabinet Matt and I found a few months ago. I also made a simple hook board to hang the ironing board on the side.
To save electricity, we hang dry most of our laundry. (Yes, we’re just that green… and cheap). Only sheets, towels and dog beds get the privilege of the dryer. The white metal drying rack is a key feature of the laundry room. I made an additional hanging rack out of pipe fittings to help with the drying.
I also made a small towel bar out of some more pipe fittings.
The picture above also gives you a glimpse of one of the main decorations in the laundry room. When it came to art, it took me a while to figure out what I wanted to put on the walls. Then I found this little enamel pot at Value Village.
It holds packets of washing machine cleaner, and it also reminded me that I had a small collection of enamel basins. My sisters, brother and I played with these dishes all the time at my grandparents’ cottage. When my grandmother sold the cottage, the basins were going to be thrown out. I was feeling sentimental, so I took them, although I wasn’t sure when I’d ever use them. Well, it turns out they work perfectly as decorations in the laundry room. They may have crossed over from rustic to rusty, but I still think they add a nice touch.
Hanging the basins facing out took a couple of tricks. First I needed a really long nail. I found some 5-inch spikes. The nails were too big to drive with just a hammer, so I drilled a pilot hole into the studs before I hammered in my nails. Once I hooked the basins on the nails, it turned out that their centres of gravity were a bit crooked. Some adhesive strips on the back stuck them to the wall and straightened them right up. For the rectangle basin, a couple of L brackets made a discreet and secure shelf.
The other item decorating the wall is also both sentimental and non-traditional art. These are the sleepers that newborn Matt wore when he came home from the hospital the first time. (I know, awwwwwwww). His Mom gave them to us years ago. Again, I had no idea what I was going to do with them. Then I realized that the red and navy stripes picked up some of the colours I was using elsewhere in the laundry room. I’ll likely end up building a proper shadow box for them, but the mini hanger works for now.
On the counter under the window, I have a few appropriately laundry decorations: an old washboard from my parents and a small red toy iron that my Mom had when she was a little girl.
It may have been a simple makeover, but the results feel dramatic to me. It’s a pretty, personal, fun and functional space.
Thanks to Linda at Calling it Home for organizing the One Room Challenge. I’ve now crossed another room off my Home Goals 2014 list. Thanks to all of you reading along for all of your support and encouragement throughout. Be sure to pop by Calling it Home to see all the other rooms.
How many people dream of a pretty laundry room? Does anyone else collect enamel ware? Have you ever made anything out of clothespins or pipe fittings? Who else air dries their clothes? What’s the most unusual thing you’ve hung on a wall?
Linking to: Happy Housie Get Your DIY On: Wall Decor
Home on 129 Acres 
Yay! It looks fabulous, and totally functional. What a great feeling, to be able to cross it off your list. How I am looking forward to doing that with our office…
It is a great feeling. Where are you at on the office?
A bit discouraged…we don’t seem to be getting far on it. We currently have two big projects for the baby that are first in line, but progressing slowly. I know when the way is cleared and the energy hits it will be fun to do (mostly), but right now it’s about wishing and waiting.
It sounds like you’re approaching it right that the baby comes first.
Excellent job: great design sense! We love the old enameled wash basins, pipe-fittings, the clothespin fixture, and the sweet touch of the “jammies” on a hanger.
The jammies are pretty sweet.
It looks just great Julia! Nice work.
Thanks so much, Stacy!
I love it all! You made some simple improvements that had a dramatic effect! Great job! I love the little sleeper!
Simple is definitely the right description.
Fabulous! I especially love the light fixture.
Me too! I get a geeky thrill that it’s made out of clothespins and it’s in a laundry room.
Perfect new additions to your room….more functional and pretty! Love the sentimental touches!
Sentimental seems to be a key feature of my style.
Wow~ An absolutely stunning space! I love the light fixture. As a fellow 6 week participant the six weeks was indeed a challenge and you rose up. Well done!
Did you notice it was really five weeks? Six posts, but really only five weeks to work on our rooms! 🙂
Perfect light fixture for the room! Glad to see you got the pipe fitting sitch handled.
Yes indeed. The pipes finally fit!
Great job!! I love the personal mementos and the clothes pin light fixture! Everything looks so crisp with the new paint and cabinet trim. 🙂
Crisp is a good word to describe it. Everything’s been freshened up.
Bravo on a job well done ORC friend! I love the rustic look and that light fixture makes the room! Enjoy your new and improved laundry room!
I absolutely am!
Very clever use of the pipes for hanging/drying space! Congrats on your space!
I can’t claim it! I was inspired by Knick of Time: http://knickoftime.net/2013/04/laundry-room-reveal.html.
What a great transformation! Congrats on completing the challenge 🙂
Thanks. Same to you.
wow! so clever with the lighting fixture! I love your new laundry space!
I can’t take credit for this one either. I got the idea from Young House Love: http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/08/320-pins/.
SOOOOOOO. GOOOOOOOOD!!! I love the details you added in with the onesie, the basins and the pipe fittings! I actually love it all! You did so much in just 6 weeks! Way to go!!!
Thanks, Thalita. It’s wonderful what we can accomplish in 6 weeks, eh?
LOVE your clothespin chandelier! So clever. Great transformation.
Best,
Elaine
OMG Lifestyle Blog
And I love the gold one you chose for your foyer. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
What a great room! Love that light fixture.
Thank you. I do too!
Great reveal! I love that light fixture. very nice!
Thanks so much. The light fixture is definitely perfect for a laundry room.
Wow Julie.It is beautiful! I love all the sentimental touches.
Thanks. It ended up being a very special space for a laundry room!
I really love how you incorporated the industrial vibe. The cabinets look amazing, and this room looks so much bigger. Great job. I am also impressed that you make home goals for the year. I gave up on that.
Thanks so much for hosting the ORC, Linda. It was a great way to keep on track with my home goals.
so i remember looking at your photos right after you posted but…can’t remember if i commented or not so you may be getting two compliments from me! this is awesome….love that light! love the look of the shaker cabinets, and even better that you DIY’d them. great job!!
Compliments are always appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to come back and comment, Tara. Your laundry room turned out awesome too!
Your laundry room turned out great! I love the light fixture and your sentimental pretty touches! Love your pipe fittings hanging structure and towel bar!!! I used the same pipes to build a bookshelf in my son’s room. Great job!!
The pipe fittings were super easy to use. I can totally see myself using them again for another project.